Bible Trivia - 7/7/2008

Question: What is the translation of the following words of Jesus: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani"?

Answer: "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)

Comments: Jesus spoke these words from the cross. This is the only complete phrase of Jesus that Matthew records in Aramaic, the language which Jesus most likely spoke. The Matthean version is transliterated in Greek as ηλει ηλει λεμα σαβαχθανει, which slightly differs from the Marcan parallel (Mark 15:34).

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Matthew 27:46, NASB)

The lines appear to be quoting the first line of Psalm 22. The entire psalm greatly resembles Jesus' predicament on the cross. Like many psalms, though it begins in lament it ends in praise. Many have found it reasonable that Jesus invoked and appropriated the entire chapter of Psalm 22 as being applicable to his hours on the cross.